The Plan
The Qatar Stars League has been on pause since the middle of September as the national team entered an early and intensive pre-tournament training camp. The national coach, Félix Sánchez, has enjoyed the luxury of working with his side in Vienna and Marbella, taking in friendlies against Canada, Chile, Nicaragua and Guatemala. A lack of preparation can be no excuse for the hosts.
They kick off the World Cup having played 10 European friendlies having already won the 2019 Asian Cup, performed well at the 2019 Copa América and reached the semi-finals of the 2021 Gold Cup. There were suggestions Sánchez’s side had actually peaked too soon, particularly after being overwhelmed by Serbia and Portugal last year and then losing 2-0 to Canada last month. But a 2-2 draw with Chile has renewed optimism.
Familiarity is their strength and Sánchez has long employed either a 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 system, the former designed to retain the ball, the latter to counter against it. This is a side brimming with technically proficient players, Akram Afif buzzes in behind the predatory Almoez Ali while the ball is funnelled down the left-channel for the galivanting Homam Al Amin.
This is a lightweight side, however, and how they fare without the ball against their imposing Group A opponents – the Netherlands, Ecuador and Senegal – is a big concern. “Tough matches await us in the tournament,” Sánchez told AFP recently. “We will face very strong teams – teams that are used to being in the World Cup. If we display our best, we will be able to compete.” You won’t hear much more than that from the team right now. Sánchez has his squad in complete isolation in Marbella with Diario AS saying that when Liverpool were based there ahead of the 2019 Champions League final you at least saw them go for a bike ride.
The Coach
Félix Sánchez has been in Qatar since 2006 and has worked his way up from the Aspire Academy, through the Qatar youth teams before landing the senior job in 2017. He failed to guide them to the 2018 Russia World Cup but the 2019 Asian Cup triumph more than made up for that disappointment. The Catalan has no club experience but few boast his knowledge of Qatari football. It has to be said, however, that the hosts would have hoped another Catalan of exalted status would have been in the dugout in Qatar, a certain Mr Xavi Hernández…
Star Player
Akram Afif (Al Sadd). Qatar’s starboy is coming back into form at just the right time. Injuries and a rumoured falling out with Xavi towards the end of his Al Sadd spell had led to a loss of consistency for Al Annabi but the recent friendlies have indicated he is primed for the World Cup. An electric forward, on his day Afif can beat any defender and justify his status as one of the best players in Asia. “He’s an unbelievable talent, a big player. I have told him many times that he’s an amazing player,” Xavi said of Afif after winning the league title in 2020.
Unsung Hero
So much rests on the shoulders of Al Duhail’s Bassam Al Rawi as the central pillar of the defence but his head could also turn out to be crucial. The centre-back is a big set-piece threat and that will be an avenue to goal for the hosts. He’s diminutive but very combative and he’ll set the tone when they’re under pressure so if he stands firm, so will Qatar.
Probable Line-up 5-3-2
Al Sheeb – Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi, Bassam Al Rawi, Abdelkarim Hassan, Homam Al Amin – Abdulaziz Hatem, Hasan Al Haydos, Karim Boudiaf – Akram Afif, Almoez Ali
By Ali Rea of sport360.com via Get Football’s partnership with the Guardian
